Reply
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,739
Registered: ‎05-19-2012

'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'

 

[Posted on WTOP online]

 

Greg Redfern -- skyguyinva@gmail.com

November 7, 2022, 1:27 PM

 

Shenandoah National Park, where this photo was taken, would be an excellent spot to see the lunar eclipse. (Courtesy Greg Redfern)

 

On Tuesday, half of the planet, including the DMV [District, Maryland and Virginia], will be treated to a total lunar eclipse of the Full Beaver Moon. And according to EarthSky.org, this will be the first Election Day total lunar eclipse in U.S. history — and it won’t happen again until Nov. 8, 2394.

 

It is also the last total lunar eclipse until 2025, so you want to make an effort to see this one!

 

The good news is, the weather should be mostly clear in the DMV during the eclipse. The bad news is that in the D.C. area, the moon will be deepest in the Earth’s shadow just before sunrise, which means brightening skies – also, the totally eclipsed moon will be very low in the sky as it sets in the west.

 

Edward Murphy, a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia, said in an email that the partial phases will begin at 4:09 a.m., when the moon enters the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.

 

“At this time, the full moon will be low in the western sky and easy to see, weather permitting,” he said. “The moon will gradually disappear as it slides into the umbra over the next 66 minutes.”

 

At 5:17 a.m., the moon will be completely inside the Earth’s umbra, and will look deep red or coppery, “because the light illuminating the moon is the light from all of the world’s sunrises and sunsets,” Murphy said.

 

At around 6 a.m., the moon will be at its faintest and reddest, Murphy said, but then the skies will brighten and the moon will be low.

 

“Totality ends at 6:42 a.m., and the moon sets and the sun rises just a few minutes later!” he said.

 

I have seen lunar eclipses under these conditions before, and it is difficult to see totality as the sky brightens. The best locations to see it are places where the western horizon is clear of trees and buildings. The west- and northwest-facing turnouts of Shenandoah National Park would be excellent. They provide a decent horizon and elevation for a good view of the setting/partially eclipsed moon. Be sure to check the park’s website for any updates first. 

 

Binoculars will help immensely and are highly recommended — mandatory, really — to try to see totality as the sky brightens.

 

You may see references to this total lunar eclipse as a "Blood Moon." It is a phrase used to describe the reddish color the moon takes on, caused by sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere and falling on the surface of the moon. Because our planet is totally blocking out the light of the sun, this reddish color — just like we can see at sunrise/sunset here on Earth — is the only light reaching the moon. The DMV will see some of that phase.

 

[The part of me that wonders about mystical forces and their possible effect on everyday events is already working overtime to figure out the effect this lunar eclipse might have on the election results.  Fingers crossed, nothing bizarre takes place, and the eclipse is just an eclipse.]

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,658
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: 'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'

@golding76,

Thank you! I'll go out and look now.

This reminds me of the lady who posted the pictures of sunsets. Her name also started with a g. I haven't seen her recently.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,113
Registered: ‎09-30-2010

Re: 'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'

[ Edited ]

@golding76   Thank you for posting this fascinating information. 

 

And, from your mouth to the Heavens hearing, let us hope that the fact that this is happening for the first time on our election day will not bring any "lunacy" with it.

 

aroc3435

Washington, DC

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,739
Registered: ‎05-19-2012

Re: 'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'

[ Edited ]

on the bay, it is too early to go out now.

 

The photo was taken by Mr. Redfern during another eclipse.  BUT YOU ARE SO RIGHT!  The photo looks like the work of Godi, who did such beautiful photography.  I miss her scenic work.  She has a gift. 

 

The partial eclipse will begin at 4:09 a.m.  And then it will progress to a total eclipse.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,658
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: 'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'

While looking for her posts, I saw this one of Godi's-one of my favorites of hers!

 

AE95261D-643B-4613-AC11-FF4AC4A22A3D.jpeg

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"
Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,745
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: 'How to see the first-ever Election Day total lunar eclipse'


@on the bay wrote:

While looking for her posts, I saw this one of Godi's-one of my favorites of hers!

 

AE95261D-643B-4613-AC11-FF4AC4A22A3D.jpeg


@on the bay 

Some mythers believe that the eclipse was caused by the Devil swallowing the moon and if they threw stones at it and cursed it, they could chase it away.